Plans have been submitted to Rutland County Council to extend HMP Stocken.

The development includes a new houseblock for more than 200 inmates, new workshop, office, extended multi-faith building and extension to the car park at the prison near Stretton.

As Nub News previously reported, the Ministry of Justice announced the scheme last Autumn, with the first inmates expected to arrive in 2023.

Some 68 jobs would be created, said the planning application to Rutland County Council.

The planning application further said: "The erection of a three storey Houseblock to accommodate up to 214 prisoners within 202 prison cells with associated covered walkways, internal security fencing and security lighting, erection of a new Offenders Management Unit (OMU) modular building, a new activities/workshop facility and extension to the car park in the north-western corner of the site to provide an additional 57 visitor spaces, a further 14 accessible spaces and 8 further spaces within the works department compound."

The application continued: "The works which are the subject of this proposal will serve the existing prison and are required to enable the development of the new houseblock, which has been deemed as required by the national need to increase prison places over the next 5 years.

"The area of the application falls within the existing prison ownership, but does require a modification to the perimeter fence line to the south-east corner of the Establishment, in order to ensure that the new houseblock can be accommodated in accordance with the custodial requirements for offsets from the perimeter wall.

"All other developments will reside within the existing prison walls. This adjustment to the external perimeter fence line is located away from key vistas, will incorporate an area of hardstanding used by previous contractors' compounds and is screened by the adjacent woodland."

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Rutland County Council has yet to determine the application but it is already receiving submissions and comments as part of the planning process.

Among them, Stretton Parish Council has told it that it neither supports nor objects to the application.

The parish council commented: "Stretton Parish Council would like to see the following to reduce the impact on the residents and the parish:

1. Traffic calming measures to be put in place.
2. Details on sewage systems, due to pumping station being near full capacity.
3. Landscaping and tree planting.
4. Site visit and walk the ground the the Governor of HMP Stocken
5. Potential impact to be assessed of the increased traffic movement."